Reading in county third grade classrooms is a three-alarm fire going unanswered

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This entire thread is full of parents who “don’t remember their parents having to do this”…. Why have kids if you aren’t willing to help them? Our kids learned to read well before K. Are they suffering now bc kids can’t read in third grade? Absolutely. They are so bored while kids struggle with pronouncing “the” and kids who don’t comprehend what they are reading. Do better as parents. Don’t you want the best for your kid? Doesn’t it start and end at home? Stop expecting schools to do your job for you. Unbelievable.

So classic- teaching your kids ahead of time so they'll be ahead of everyone else and beyond their grade level, then complaining they are "bored" and not enriched enough at school. Stop complaining and enrich them at home.

Aww your little "gotcha" moment didn't happen. Nice try though. It wasn't a complaint. Just asking parents to do better. My kids get plenty of enrichment at home but I wouldn't expect more from a parent trying to get out of parenting duties. It's the norm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So if parents are responsible for teaching their kids to read, then what is the point of school?

You do realize that kids learn others skills over the course of K-12 besides the basics of reading?

DP

Sure, but this thread is primarily focused on K-3 instruction, right?

And you can’t really excel in school if you can’t *read*.

So, if reading instruction isn’t working in mcps…one of the best resourced school districts with a history of achievement (albeit in the past)…then it seems fair to ask, “What are they doing if they aren’t doing this?” And, “if they expect parents to teach kids to read, then perhaps they should explicitly tell us that.”

#BeBetter,MCPS

Certain that learning to read is not the only skill taught in K-3. And no one said MCPS said parents should reach kids to read. Folks here indicated we thought it was strange that parents didn’t view teaching reading as primarily their responsibility/accountability.

I’ll admit I’ve been out of school myself for a long time, but that’s not how it used to be. We were primarily taught to read in school and practiced a few minutes each night reading to our parents. And reading instruction didn’t even start until 1st grade back then. Since times have seemingly changed, it would be nice if schools gave parents a heads up that it is primarily their responsibility to teach at home.

You need a “heads up” to do your job as a parent? Good luck.

DP, but for me it is more that schools are no longer about education, but socialization and childcare. Parents are supposed to be the primary educators in the evening vs. the teachers they spend all day with. Some of you seem very comfortable with that setup, I find it disturbing.

Your job first and foremost, was always to be a primary educator in your own child's life. Please tell me you knew this before having kids? You didn't....?

No wonder....

No words.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So if parents are responsible for teaching their kids to read, then what is the point of school?

You do realize that kids learn others skills over the course of K-12 besides the basics of reading?

DP

Sure, but this thread is primarily focused on K-3 instruction, right?

And you can’t really excel in school if you can’t *read*.

So, if reading instruction isn’t working in mcps…one of the best resourced school districts with a history of achievement (albeit in the past)…then it seems fair to ask, “What are they doing if they aren’t doing this?” And, “if they expect parents to teach kids to read, then perhaps they should explicitly tell us that.”

#BeBetter,MCPS

Certain that learning to read is not the only skill taught in K-3. And no one said MCPS said parents should reach kids to read. Folks here indicated we thought it was strange that parents didn’t view teaching reading as primarily their responsibility/accountability.

I’ll admit I’ve been out of school myself for a long time, but that’s not how it used to be. We were primarily taught to read in school and practiced a few minutes each night reading to our parents. And reading instruction didn’t even start until 1st grade back then. Since times have seemingly changed, it would be nice if schools gave parents a heads up that it is primarily their responsibility to teach at home.

You need a “heads up” to do your job as a parent? Good luck.

DP, but for me it is more that schools are no longer about education, but socialization and childcare. Parents are supposed to be the primary educators in the evening vs. the teachers they spend all day with. Some of you seem very comfortable with that setup, I find it disturbing.

Your job first and foremost, was always to be a primary educator in your own child's life. Please tell me you knew this before having kids? You didn't....?

No wonder....

No words.

DP. The PP is complaining that the school is not providing students with a good education. That’s what school is supposed to do, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So if parents are responsible for teaching their kids to read, then what is the point of school?

You do realize that kids learn others skills over the course of K-12 besides the basics of reading?

DP

Sure, but this thread is primarily focused on K-3 instruction, right?

And you can’t really excel in school if you can’t *read*.

So, if reading instruction isn’t working in mcps…one of the best resourced school districts with a history of achievement (albeit in the past)…then it seems fair to ask, “What are they doing if they aren’t doing this?” And, “if they expect parents to teach kids to read, then perhaps they should explicitly tell us that.”

#BeBetter,MCPS

Certain that learning to read is not the only skill taught in K-3. And no one said MCPS said parents should reach kids to read. Folks here indicated we thought it was strange that parents didn’t view teaching reading as primarily their responsibility/accountability.

I’ll admit I’ve been out of school myself for a long time, but that’s not how it used to be. We were primarily taught to read in school and practiced a few minutes each night reading to our parents. And reading instruction didn’t even start until 1st grade back then. Since times have seemingly changed, it would be nice if schools gave parents a heads up that it is primarily their responsibility to teach at home.

You need a “heads up” to do your job as a parent? Good luck.

DP, but for me it is more that schools are no longer about education, but socialization and childcare. Parents are supposed to be the primary educators in the evening vs. the teachers they spend all day with. Some of you seem very comfortable with that setup, I find it disturbing.

Your job first and foremost, was always to be a primary educator in your own child's life. Please tell me you knew this before having kids? You didn't....?

No wonder....

No words.

DP. The PP is complaining that the school is not providing students with a good education. That’s what school is supposed to do, right?

DP, so get of your lazy bum and do the work? Our parents did. It's so pathetic. We can blame MCPS all day but look in the mirror once in a while.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I always laugh at the “parents should be responsible and accountable but MCPS shouldn’t be” crowd. They can’t see the blatant hypocrisy in their argument as they ferociously fight to argue that schools are under no obligation to thoroughly and effectively educate the students they purport to serve. Even though that mission is their entire reason for existing in the first grade place.

Where did anyone say that? Where did anyone say MCPS shouldn’t improve? We said that parents aren’t removed from teaching the basic skill of reading. If your kid doesn’t know how to color when they enter K, MCPS will help them learn this skill or at least try. But, it doesn’t mean that I’m not side eyeing you wondering why you never put a crayon in their hand and taught them to use it. Similarly, if your kid gets to K not knowing the letter sounds, MCPS will teach them to your kid. But, again it why didn’t you.

Several parents said that parents have the PRIMARY responsibility for teaching their kids to read. And several posters said parents who say MCPS is failing children simply aren't interested in parenting.

You're not seriously asking this question in good faith. You're slamming parents who you believe/judge to be less worthy than you, and then when called out on precisely what you're doing, feign ignorance and say you're not saying MCPS shouldn't improve, even though that premise is precisely what you are arguing about with the parents you're insulting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I always laugh at the “parents should be responsible and accountable but MCPS shouldn’t be” crowd. They can’t see the blatant hypocrisy in their argument as they ferociously fight to argue that schools are under no obligation to thoroughly and effectively educate the students they purport to serve. Even though that mission is their entire reason for existing in the first grade place.

Where did anyone say that? Where did anyone say MCPS shouldn’t improve? We said that parents aren’t removed from teaching the basic skill of reading. If your kid doesn’t know how to color when they enter K, MCPS will help them learn this skill or at least try. But, it doesn’t mean that I’m not side eyeing you wondering why you never put a crayon in their hand and taught them to use it. Similarly, if your kid gets to K not knowing the letter sounds, MCPS will teach them to your kid. But, again it why didn’t you.

You or other posters are arguing that parents should bear the primary responsibility to teach their kids to read. No one is saying parents should be removed entirely, but there's a lot of space between support and being the primary teacher. I view support as reading to your kids, helping them with homework as needed (if they're assigned any), and having them read books/passages commiserate with their level to you.

Correct. The support role is what the role parents should and traditionally have been expected to play. But DCUM posters want to move the goal posts and now say if you aren't teaching your kid to read before they enter elementary school on your own, then you're a bad mother/father. It's ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So if parents are responsible for teaching their kids to read, then what is the point of school?

You do realize that kids learn others skills over the course of K-12 besides the basics of reading?

DP

Sure, but this thread is primarily focused on K-3 instruction, right?

And you can’t really excel in school if you can’t *read*.

So, if reading instruction isn’t working in mcps…one of the best resourced school districts with a history of achievement (albeit in the past)…then it seems fair to ask, “What are they doing if they aren’t doing this?” And, “if they expect parents to teach kids to read, then perhaps they should explicitly tell us that.”

#BeBetter,MCPS

Certain that learning to read is not the only skill taught in K-3. And no one said MCPS said parents should reach kids to read. Folks here indicated we thought it was strange that parents didn’t view teaching reading as primarily their responsibility/accountability.

I’ll admit I’ve been out of school myself for a long time, but that’s not how it used to be. We were primarily taught to read in school and practiced a few minutes each night reading to our parents. And reading instruction didn’t even start until 1st grade back then. Since times have seemingly changed, it would be nice if schools gave parents a heads up that it is primarily their responsibility to teach at home.

You need a “heads up” to do your job as a parent? Good luck.

DP, but for me it is more that schools are no longer about education, but socialization and childcare. Parents are supposed to be the primary educators in the evening vs. the teachers they spend all day with. Some of you seem very comfortable with that setup, I find it disturbing.

Your job first and foremost, was always to be a primary educator in your own child's life. Please tell me you knew this before having kids? You didn't....?

No wonder....

No words.

Parents are the PRIMARY EDUCATOR in their child's life in terms of:
- Instilling values
- Expectations
- Manners
- Character

But SCHOOLS are the PRIMARY ACADEMIC EDUCATORS in children's lives. If this was not the case, they would not exist. The government would instead funnel money to parents to instruct and implement curriculum to their kids directly.

Stop playing this stupid game.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I always laugh at the “parents should be responsible and accountable but MCPS shouldn’t be” crowd. They can’t see the blatant hypocrisy in their argument as they ferociously fight to argue that schools are under no obligation to thoroughly and effectively educate the students they purport to serve. Even though that mission is their entire reason for existing in the first grade place.

Where did anyone say that? Where did anyone say MCPS shouldn’t improve? We said that parents aren’t removed from teaching the basic skill of reading. If your kid doesn’t know how to color when they enter K, MCPS will help them learn this skill or at least try. But, it doesn’t mean that I’m not side eyeing you wondering why you never put a crayon in their hand and taught them to use it. Similarly, if your kid gets to K not knowing the letter sounds, MCPS will teach them to your kid. But, again it why didn’t you.

Several parents said that parents have the PRIMARY responsibility for teaching their kids to read. And several posters said parents who say MCPS is failing children simply aren't interested in parenting.

You're not seriously asking this question in good faith. You're slamming parents who you believe/judge to be less worthy than you, and then when called out on precisely what you're doing, feign ignorance and say you're not saying MCPS shouldn't improve, even though that premise is precisely what you are arguing about with the parents you're insulting.

You're a bad bad parent. Got it. We get it...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I always laugh at the “parents should be responsible and accountable but MCPS shouldn’t be” crowd. They can’t see the blatant hypocrisy in their argument as they ferociously fight to argue that schools are under no obligation to thoroughly and effectively educate the students they purport to serve. Even though that mission is their entire reason for existing in the first grade place.

Where did anyone say that? Where did anyone say MCPS shouldn’t improve? We said that parents aren’t removed from teaching the basic skill of reading. If your kid doesn’t know how to color when they enter K, MCPS will help them learn this skill or at least try. But, it doesn’t mean that I’m not side eyeing you wondering why you never put a crayon in their hand and taught them to use it. Similarly, if your kid gets to K not knowing the letter sounds, MCPS will teach them to your kid. But, again it why didn’t you.

Several parents said that parents have the PRIMARY responsibility for teaching their kids to read. And several posters said parents who say MCPS is failing children simply aren't interested in parenting.

You're not seriously asking this question in good faith. You're slamming parents who you believe/judge to be less worthy than you, and then when called out on precisely what you're doing, feign ignorance and say you're not saying MCPS shouldn't improve, even though that premise is precisely what you are arguing about with the parents you're insulting.

You're a bad bad parent. Got it. We get it...

And you're a troll. We get it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/press/index.aspx?pagetype=showrelease&id=1424

In 2004, mcps touted the fact that third graders led the pack in terms of the highest test scores—including in reading—and the most impressive progress was in low income schools with large Spanish-speaking populations.

So, what was different then? What curriculum were they using in the years leading up to those successful third graders who tested well in 2003/04?

This was under Jerry’s watch.

We didn’t have as many Latinos in 2004, but certain schools certainly did…and even those schools managed to teach kids to read.

What’s the difference? It’s not the students.

Is it the curriculum?

Teachers?

Social media?

Maga?

Who can we blame, and how can we fuel change?

How about we stop looking for something or someone to blame and just teach kids to read with what is known to work. Phonics instruction, teacher and parent time and support, addressing any learning disabilities/difficulties early, high dosage tutoring for those struggling, and surrounding kids with books they would choose(print, online, audio).

If a classroom or school is missing one of the above, let folks know which so it can be addressed.

Can anyone tell us what teaching looked like in 2003/04 in mcps K-3?
I can tell you as an mcps student in the early 00s.

I’m assuming they used phonics because this was pre 2.0, right? They didn't teach us phonics.

And it was still old school teaching, right? Yes there were no screens and multimedua

No chrome books. Yes no screentime

Kids grouped by ability. No all the kids were together

Anyone know what resources were available?

What did a typical day look like?

How did they approach spelling and grammar? No teaching of spelling or gramnar until 3rd grade. Weekly spring quizzes. Taught us cursive in 3rd grade

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So if parents are responsible for teaching their kids to read, then what is the point of school?

You do realize that kids learn others skills over the course of K-12 besides the basics of reading?

DP

Sure, but this thread is primarily focused on K-3 instruction, right?

And you can’t really excel in school if you can’t *read*.

So, if reading instruction isn’t working in mcps…one of the best resourced school districts with a history of achievement (albeit in the past)…then it seems fair to ask, “What are they doing if they aren’t doing this?” And, “if they expect parents to teach kids to read, then perhaps they should explicitly tell us that.”

#BeBetter,MCPS

Certain that learning to read is not the only skill taught in K-3. And no one said MCPS said parents should reach kids to read. Folks here indicated we thought it was strange that parents didn’t view teaching reading as primarily their responsibility/accountability.

I’ll admit I’ve been out of school myself for a long time, but that’s not how it used to be. We were primarily taught to read in school and practiced a few minutes each night reading to our parents. And reading instruction didn’t even start until 1st grade back then. Since times have seemingly changed, it would be nice if schools gave parents a heads up that it is primarily their responsibility to teach at home.

You need a “heads up” to do your job as a parent? Good luck.

DP, but for me it is more that schools are no longer about education, but socialization and childcare. Parents are supposed to be the primary educators in the evening vs. the teachers they spend all day with. Some of you seem very comfortable with that setup, I find it disturbing.

Your job first and foremost, was always to be a primary educator in your own child's life. Please tell me you knew this before having kids? You didn't....?

No wonder....

No words.

Parents are the PRIMARY EDUCATOR in their child's life in terms of:
- Instilling values
- Expectations
- Manners
- Character

But SCHOOLS are the PRIMARY ACADEMIC EDUCATORS in children's lives. If this was not the case, they would not exist. The government would instead funnel money to parents to instruct and implement curriculum to their kids directly.

Are you okay? Seek some outside,helpful bc.....yikes....Also, please stop raising kids. You seem terrible at it.

Stop playing this stupid game.

[Anonymous]

Lol.. I didn't even have to read through the responses.


Parents: This is your job and I'm sorry you all seem so upset about it. Pathetic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This entire thread is full of parents who “don’t remember their parents having to do this”…. Why have kids if you aren’t willing to help them? Our kids learned to read well before K. Are they suffering now bc kids can’t read in third grade? Absolutely. They are so bored while kids struggle with pronouncing “the” and kids who don’t comprehend what they are reading. Do better as parents. Don’t you want the best for your kid? Doesn’t it start and end at home? Stop expecting schools to do your job for you. Unbelievable.

So classic- teaching your kids ahead of time so they'll be ahead of everyone else and beyond their grade level, then complaining they are "bored" and not enriched enough at school. Stop complaining and enrich them at home.

Aww your little "gotcha" moment didn't happen. Nice try though. It wasn't a complaint. Just asking parents to do better. My kids get plenty of enrichment at home but I wouldn't expect more from a parent trying to get out of parenting duties. It's the norm.

You’re really doing your high-achieving, enriched kids a disservice by keeping them enrolled in public school with on or below level peers. Hope you at least get into a magnet program, they must be bored out of their minds all day. Yikes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're in DCPS and I don't understand how this is STILL happening in MCPS. We've been pleasantly surprised to see how well DCPS has course corrected regarding reading and our own experience has been phenomenal -- all evidence-based, focus on phonics, no Lucy Caulkins nonsense at all.

We're contemplating a move to MoCo for several reasons, including schools (in a bad HS triangle in DC) and this is giving me pause.

My second grader in MCPS has consistently been taught phonics in school since the beginning, definitely more than my current fourth grader received (I remember sight word books and “look at the pictures for clues” during the zoom school days). I don’t know where the current third graders fall. Was there a change to the MCPS curriculum with more phonics starting with the kids who are now second graders?

This is only the 2nd year of phonics/science of reading (except I think there were some pilot schools the year before, maybe yours was one?) My second grader was taught all sorts of crappy guessing strategies in kindergarten, but last year and this year have been much better and she's finally starting to drop some of the bad habits she picked up in kindergarten.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So if parents are responsible for teaching their kids to read, then what is the point of school?

You do realize that kids learn others skills over the course of K-12 besides the basics of reading?

DP

Sure, but this thread is primarily focused on K-3 instruction, right?

And you can’t really excel in school if you can’t *read*.

So, if reading instruction isn’t working in mcps…one of the best resourced school districts with a history of achievement (albeit in the past)…then it seems fair to ask, “What are they doing if they aren’t doing this?” And, “if they expect parents to teach kids to read, then perhaps they should explicitly tell us that.”

#BeBetter,MCPS

Certain that learning to read is not the only skill taught in K-3. And no one said MCPS said parents should reach kids to read. Folks here indicated we thought it was strange that parents didn’t view teaching reading as primarily their responsibility/accountability.

I’ll admit I’ve been out of school myself for a long time, but that’s not how it used to be. We were primarily taught to read in school and practiced a few minutes each night reading to our parents. And reading instruction didn’t even start until 1st grade back then. Since times have seemingly changed, it would be nice if schools gave parents a heads up that it is primarily their responsibility to teach at home.

You need a “heads up” to do your job as a parent? Good luck.

DP, but for me it is more that schools are no longer about education, but socialization and childcare. Parents are supposed to be the primary educators in the evening vs. the teachers they spend all day with. Some of you seem very comfortable with that setup, I find it disturbing.

Your job first and foremost, was always to be a primary educator in your own child's life. Please tell me you knew this before having kids? You didn't....?

No wonder....

No words.

Parents are the PRIMARY EDUCATOR in their child's life in terms of:
- Instilling values
- Expectations
- Manners
- Character

But SCHOOLS are the PRIMARY ACADEMIC EDUCATORS in children's lives. If this was not the case, they would not exist. The government would instead funnel money to parents to instruct and implement curriculum to their kids directly.

Stop playing this stupid game.

What??? In what way is this true? So schools are responsible for teaching kids life skills. So I’m suppose to send my kid to school with their laundry so they learn how to do it? Maybe I should ask schools to teach them how to bathe? How to swim? Basic safety like looking both ways before crossing the street?

Reading is a basic life skill at this point. Because you for some odd reason want relegated it to only being an academic skill doesn’t make it so.